§Be Creative – Look up specials for big gym chains for 2-week memberships that are complimentary. Or if you are a person who knows you only will use the gym 4 times a month, see if a day pass makes more sense financially.

PROBLEM: You avoid the kitchen because you don’t have the right cooking equipment.

SOLUTION: Stock up on necessities to make life easier, save money and keep food longer:

§Own a knife set. Good knives equal a safer kitchen! A basic set with a block helps organization and provides easy access.

PROBLEM: Too much negative, self-defeating chatter in your head.

SOLUTION: Put it somewhere other than in your friends’ ears!

§Grab a journal. Use a timer and start with 10 minutes of free flowing thoughts. You are not writing War and Peace – don’t judge your writing. There is something powerful about seeing your thoughts in your own handwriting as opposed to on the computer. Once it’s on paper, watch your energy shift.

§Make a list of friends to reach out to. Sometimes when you are in despair, we forget who we can reach out to and feel alone. It may seem silly, but a list of key friends you trust and respect can be a valuable tool in the darkest times.